Mormon travels from England to Iowa: Part 1

A short keep within the neighborhood of Marengo is talked about in a e-book that chronicles the travels of a bunch of Mormon settlers making their option to Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, within the mid-1800s.

Many Marengo space residents are conscious a number of the Mormon expeditions throughout Iowa from Illinois to Utah crossed Iowa County. A number of touring corporations made it to Iowa Metropolis to regroup after which began on westward by handcart or wagon. Already recorded and acknowledged is the journey of the Emmett Firm which, as directed by John Smith, assembled in Iowa Metropolis and began westward by way of the Iowa Territory within the 1840s earlier than Iowa had gained its statehood.

This firm made it so far as the Marengo space within the late fall earlier than ready out the worst of the winter from December 1844 to January 1845 on the northeast fringe of Marengo. At the moment, the Iowa River channel made a big bend southeastward towards the city. The Emmett Firm is reported to have camped alongside the south facet of the river close to what’s now the southeast nook of the Gateway Park and the northeast nook of the Iowa Valley Athletic Complicated, almost certainly within the area the place North Road turns west off of V66.

Whereas awaiting higher journey situations, a number of members of the celebration died and the stories are that some have been buried on this space with none markings or identifications to be discovered. One-third of those that survived misplaced hope within the expedition and returned to Nauvoo, Sick. As quickly as climate permitted, the remainder continued their journey northwest towards Marshalltown, following the Iowa River, the place they linked with others to make their means westward to Council Bluffs. There they’d be part of a fair bigger physique which might proceed on to settle in Salt Lake Metropolis and the Utah Territory.

On this space, that giant bend within the river was dubbed “Mormon Bend” on many maps. It’s alleged that the primary settler in Marengo occupied an deserted cabin utilized by the Mormons once they camped right here. An Iowa Valley Scenic Byway marker denotes this space with an indication and a telephone primary can dial to acquire additional data.

This previous summer season as Richard and Carole Ballard moved from their house into Highland Ridge, a e-book surfaced that chronicled the occasions of the Martin Handcart Firm from Iowa Metropolis westward. It was compiled from many sources and written in diary kind as may need been stored by 15-year-old Charlotte Elizabeth Mellor who together with her household was part of this firm.

The e-book is entitled “Charlotte Elizabeth: A Story of Tenacity, Tragedy and Triumph.” It was written by JoAnn Mellor Felix and revealed in 1996. The next accounts of their journey are summarized right here.

Charlotte Elizabeth Mellor, aged 15, and 4 of her siblings have been deposited on a ship in Liverpool, England, by their father, James, in Might of 1856. Plans had been made for the household of 9 to journey to America aboard the Horizon together with many different Latter-day Saint households for eventual settlement in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah. This was the Martin Firm, consisting of about 150 folks. Their father, James Mellor, positioned Charlotte accountable for the siblings and returned to shore to attend his ailing spouse Mary Ann, who had simply given delivery prematurely to twins and was not anticipated to reside.

The ship anchored within the Mersey River the place they waited out a storm within the channel. Charlotte was hopeful her father, mom and the new child twins would be capable to be part of the ship earlier than it sailed out into the ocean towards America. A number of different shiploads of individuals to comprise the Martin Firm had already departed England. Altogether the corporate would whole round 850 folks (a minimum of 13 have been 60 and older, a minimum of 182 have been 10 or below, a number of girls have been pregnant, and a number of other have been crippled. All have been decided to succeed in Utah in America as their ultimate vacation spot. Many days after Charlotte and her siblings had been put aboard the Horizon, the steam tug Nice Conquest, was dispatched to take their vessel down the Mersey River and out to sea. With the arrival of the tugboat, a number of adults got here aboard the ship and a gathering of all was held.

It was then Charlotte discovered her father aboard. He revealed the twins had not survived and their mom, Mary Ann, was aboard the ship, very weak and recovering in a bunk under. The household was thus reunited with the 2 youngest youngsters coming aboard with James, their father. The Mellor household of 9 was collectively headed for America because the Horizon sailed out into the Atlantic on Might 26, 1856: James Sr., and Mary Ann Payne Mellor with Louisa, age 16; Charlotte, age 15; Mary Ann, age 10; James Jr., age 8; William, age 5; Emma and Clara, age 3. Their journey, as recorded by Charlotte, was filled with anticipation and pleasure in addition to a lot anguish with stormy seas, sickness, and loss of life.

On June 28 they sighted land: Cape Cod down river from Boston. The ship dropped anchor and the checking of passenger lists in addition to the bodily examination of all passengers started. On June 30, a steam tug towed the ship into the Structure Wharf and the household disembarked on July 1. On July 2, 1856, the touring group boarded a practice from Boston to Greenbush, traveled by horse cart and wagon throughout a number of the New York countryside to Albany, and boarded a practice once more at Albany to succeed in Buffalo.

The journey continued by practice throughout Ohio and Illinois to Rock Island the place they crossed the Mississippi on steam ferries. Ferrying throughout the river was made crucial as a result of the railroad bridge had partially burned down in a fireplace earlier within the 12 months. Once more on the practice at Davenport, the journey continued to Iowa Metropolis the place they arrived on July 9. Right here the group went to a campground the place they’d stay till handcarts might be constructed and tents might be sewn.

The Mellor household’s baggage was delayed within the journey so the household was loaned provisions by others already camped in Iowa Metropolis. On July 11, the Mellor household obtained their baggage (books, papers, clothes, and bedding, together with a number of barrels of meals). Within the writing was an evidence on some great benefits of touring by handcart slightly than by wagon: 1) One didn’t need to deal with the contrariness of oxen that pulled a wagon. 2) Animals have been scarce as a result of so many individuals have been touring west and time was required to interrupt or practice the animals. 3) Most of the emigrants had by no means labored with oxen or horses so would wish coaching in dealing with them. 4) Handcarts have been cheaper to construct. 5) An individual pulling a handcart may stroll a lot sooner than an ox with a wagon.

The Mellor household together with the opposite emigrants started to repack their belongings for journey westward. They would wish to lighten their load to solely 17 kilos so books and garments got away or offered in an public sale. By July 25, the handcarts have been completed and 146 have been prepared for the passengers of the Horizon. About 575 folks, together with the Mellor household, could be touring westward they usually started the trek on July 28.

(Editor’s notice: This story will proceed in subsequent week’s version, because the Mellor household travels by way of Iowa County and stays briefly close to Marengo.)